Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes: a plurality of sensors configured to generate sensor signals; a vacuum motor; and a controller comprising first and second modules, wherein: the first module is configured to process the generated sensor signals to generate a plurality of control signals; the second module is configured to process the plurality of control signals to generate an output signal indicating that the vacuum cleaner is currently being used; and the vacuum motor is configured to activate or deactivate in dependence on the output signal.

1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a plurality of sensors configured to generate sensor signals;   a vacuum motor; and   a controller comprising first and second modules, wherein:
 the first module is configured to process the generated sensor signals to generate a plurality of control signals; 
 the second module is configured to process the plurality of control signals to generate an output signal indicating that the vacuum cleaner is currently being used; and 
 the vacuum motor is configured to activate or deactivate in dependence on the output signal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the first module is configured to process the generated sensor signals by performing a pre-processing step and a classification step. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein the pre-processing step comprises extracting features from time portions of the generated sensor signals. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein the pre-processing step comprises filtering the sensor signals. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , wherein the classification step comprises processing the extracted features using a machine learning classifier to provide the plurality of control signals. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein the machine learning classifier comprises one or more of: an artificial neural network, a random forest and a support-vector machine. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the second module comprises a finite state machine. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the output signal is a binary signal. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a tool switch sensor configured to generate a sensor signal dependent on the installation of a removable tool on the vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises an inertial measurement unit, IMU, configured to generate sensor signals based on sensed motion and orientation of the vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor signals generated by the IMU are based only on sensed motion of the vacuum cleaner or only on sensed orientation of the vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a capacitive sensor located in proximity to a handle of the vacuum cleaner and configured to generate sensor signals dependent on whether a user is gripping the handle. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a proximity sensor configured to generate sensor signals dependent on the proximity of an object to the proximity sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second modules comprise first and second software modules. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 generating sensor signals by a plurality of sensors of the vacuum cleaner;   at a first module of a controller, processing the sensor signals to generate a plurality of control signals;   at a second module of the controller, processing the plurality of control signals to generate an output signal indicating that the vacuum cleaner is currently being used; and   activating or deactivating a vacuum motor of the vacuum cleaner in dependence on the output signal.   
     
     
         16 . A computer program comprising a set of instructions, which, when executed by a computerised device, cause the computerised device to perform a method of operating a vacuum cleaner, the method comprising:
 generating sensor signals by a plurality of sensors of the vacuum cleaner;   at a first module of a controller, processing the sensor signals to generate a plurality of control signals;   at a second module of the controller, processing the plurality of control signals to generate an output signal indicating that the vacuum cleaner is currently being used; and   activating or deactivating a vacuum motor of the vacuum cleaner in dependence on the output signal.